Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is here! Where has the year gone? I am sure you are looking forward to a feast with your loved ones!



On Thanksgiving we are reminded to express our gratitude. This year I have a new idea to share with you, introduced to me by a fellow coach, Tina Games-Evans, it is an "AlphaPoem of Gratitude".

Here's how you do it...on a piece of paper make an ABC list vertically down the page. Starting with the letter A, list what you are grateful for, such as "Aunt Peggy" then pass the list to the next guest and have them fill in B. Keep passing the list until you have finished the alphabet! This is a fun way for everyone to express their gratitude!



I would like to leave you with a closing thought on gratitude, "Gratitudes are expressions of gratefulness for things outside of yourself: people, place, situation and things that are external. Always be specific as possible in your gratitudes. Gratitudes are very powerful; they can literally change your perspective of the world. You see opportunities where there were none before. You are open to possibilities that, in the past, would have felt impossible. You become more positive. You see people differently. You begin to notice little things. Stress dissolves. Your smile returns. Life seems doable." Rhonda Britten, Founder of Fearless Living





I look forward to making my "AlphaPoem of Gratitude" I know already for C, it is Clients and for R, the Readers of my newsletter and blog!



I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving full of good food, good company, and Gratitude!

Showing Up

How often do you NOT show up in your life?

This recently happened to me with a group of coaches. We just recently met and are working together in a mastermind group. Our group is involved in a competition with other groups. (I hate competitions, give me collaboration instead!)

Each week we come together on a call to brainstorm (mastermind) some new ideas. If we come up with some great ideas then we stand a chance of winning a great prize. Sunday night just before our weekly call I had an epiphany...

I realized that if it were a reality TV show like Survivor, that on this night's call, I would most likely get kicked off! Aftr all, I was coming to the call with nothing to offer. I had been on two previous calls and felt I had offered nothing then either. I, of course, was dreading this call. Then it came to me, "I am not showing up!" Sure, I had been on the previous calls, but I didn't show up. The person that showed up was someone who was fearful of being judged, not fitting in, and/or not being good enough.

So, Sunday night, minutes before the call, I decided I would show up! All of me, honest, fearful, funny, and someone who does have something to contribute (even if I wasn't sure what!)

When it came my turn to share with the group I told them I had nothing! I said I was glad it wasn't a reality TV show because I would be getting kicked off! Guess what? They all had felt that way about themselves too! We all had NOT shown up!

At this moment, all of us showed up. We had our best call ever and came up with some great ideas!

Where are you not showing up in your life? I invite you to examine this over the next few weeks. Really focus and become aware of when fear is keeping you from showing up.

When we don't show up, we can't feel the passion, we don't find our purpose. Remember, passion comes with risk, power, and fun!

I would love to hear your story of How You Show Up or DON'T Show UP in Your Life. Post your comments here, maybe I can help you start "Showing Up"!

Making a List

Since my return from the Coaching Super Summit my mind has been overwhelmed with possibilities. There were so many great ideas I seem to just want to use them all!

How often does that happen to us in our businesses and in our lives? So many good ideas, so much to do, and never enough time?

For myself I have come up with a solution and perhaps this will work for you too.

I am making a list. A list of all the good ideas and things I want to do. Once I have made my list, I plan to rate it by what is most important, the amount of time it will take, whether there is a deadline or perceived deadline, how it will impact my business or life, whether I have the necessary means (tools, skills, etc.), and how much joy I will get from doing the particular task.

I like working with a list. I love crossing things off the list, it gives me such a sense of accomplishment.

I encourage you to take time today to make a list, after all we are approaching that time of year, as the jingle says, "He's making his list, he's checking it twice, gonna find out...whose productive or not!" (OK I changed the lyrics a bit!)